5 Motives Evolution Site Is Actually A Good Thing

Evolution Site - Teaching About Evolution

Despite the best efforts of biology educators, misconceptions about evolution remain. People who have been exposed to the nonsense of pop science often believe that biologists claim they don't believe in evolution.

This rich Web site, which is a companion to the PBS program, provides teachers with materials that support the evolution of education, while avoiding the kinds of misconceptions that can make it difficult to understand. It's organized in a "bread crumb" format to make navigation and orientation easier.

Definitions

Evolution is a complicated and difficult subject matter to teach effectively. People who are not scientists often have a difficult time understanding the subject, and some scientists even use a definition that confuses it. This is particularly applicable to discussions about the definition of the word itself.

It is therefore important to define the terms used in evolutionary biology. Understanding Evolution's website helps you define these terms in a simple and efficient way. The site is a companion to the show that premiered in 2001, but it can also function as an independent resource. The content is presented in a nested manner that assists in navigation and orientation.

The site defines terms like common ancestor and gradual process. These terms help frame the nature of evolution and its relationship to other concepts in science. The site provides an overview of the way in which evolution has been examined. This information can be used to dispel misconceptions that have been engendered by the creationists.

You can also access a glossary which contains terms that are used in evolutionary biology. These terms include:

The process of adaptation is the tendency of heritable traits to become better suited to an environment. This is a result of natural selection, which occurs when organisms that have better-adapted characteristics are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less adaptable traits.

Common ancestor (also known as common ancestor): The most recent ancestor shared by two or more species. The common ancestor can be identified by studying the DNA of the species.

Deoxyribonucleic acid: A massive biological molecule that contains the information required for cell replication. The information is stored in nucleotides arranged in sequences that are strung together to form long chains, also known as chromosomes. Mutations are the source of new genetic information in cells.

Coevolution is a relationship between two species in which the evolution of one species are influenced by evolutionary changes in the other. Coevolution is evident through the interaction between predator and prey, or parasite and hosts.

Origins

Species (groups of individuals that can interbreed) evolve through an array of natural changes in the characteristics of their offspring. The changes can be triggered by a variety of factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mixing of gene pools. The evolution of new species could take thousands of years. Environmental conditions, like climate change or competition for food and habitat can slow or speed up the process.

The Evolution site follows the evolution of different groups of animals and plants and focuses on major changes within each group's past. It also focuses on the evolutionary origin of humans which is crucial for students to understand.

When Darwin wrote the Origin in 1859, only a handful of antediluvian human fossils had been discovered. One of them was the infamous skullcap and the associated bones discovered in 1856 in the Little Feldhofer Grotto in Germany which is now believed as an early Homo neanderthalensis. It is unlikely that Darwin was aware of the skullcap, which was first published in 1858, which was a year following the initial edition of The Origin. Origin.

The site is mostly a biology site however, it also has lots of information about paleontology and geology. The website has several features that are particularly impressive, including a timeline of the way that climate and geological conditions have changed over the course of time. It also has a map showing the distribution of fossil groups.

While the site is a companion piece to a PBS television show however, it can stand on its own as a great resource for teachers and students. The site is well-organized and has clear links between the introduction content in Understanding Evolution (developed with support from the National Science Foundation) and the more sophisticated elements of the museum Web site. These links make it easier to transition from the cartoon-style Understanding Evolution pages into the more sophisticated worlds of research science. In particular there are links to John Endler's experiments using guppies that illustrate the importance of ecology in evolutionary theory.

Diversity

The evolution of life has resulted in a variety of animals, plants and insects. Paleobiology, the study of these creatures in their geological environment, has many advantages over modern observational or research methods for exploring evolutionary phenomena. In  simply click the next website  to exploring the processes and events that happen frequently or over a long period of time, paleobiology allows to analyze the relative abundance of various kinds of organisms as well as their distribution throughout the course of geological time.

The site is divided up into different options to gain knowledge about evolution. One of the paths, "Evolution 101," takes the viewer through the nature and evidence of evolution. The course also focuses on the most common misconceptions about evolution, as well as the evolution of thought.

Each of the other sections of the Evolution site is equally created, with resources that can support a variety of curriculum levels and pedagogical styles. In addition to general textual content, the site also has an extensive selection of multimedia and interactive resources including videos, animations and virtual laboratories. The breadcrumb-like structure of the content assists with navigation and orientation on the vast web site.

For instance the page "Coral Reef Connections" gives a brief overview of the relationships between corals and their interaction with other organisms. It then zooms in on a single clam that can communicate with its neighbors and react to changes in the water conditions that occur at the level of the reef. This page, as well as the other multidisciplinary interactive and multimedia pages, gives a good introduction to many topics in evolutionary biology. The material includes an explanation of the importance of natural selection and the concept phylogenetics analysis as a key method for understanding the evolution of changes.

Evolutionary Theory

Evolution is a common thread that is found throughout all branches of biology. A vast collection of books helps in teaching evolution across the disciplines of life sciences.

One resource, a companion to the PBS television series Understanding Evolution, is an outstanding example of an Web site that offers both the depth and breadth of its educational resources. The site features a wealth of interactive learning modules. It also has a nested "bread crumb" structure that helps students move from the cartoon-like style of Understanding Evolution to elements on this large Web site closer to the field of research science. An animation that introduces the concept of genetics links to a page about John Endler's artificial-selection experiments with Guppies living in ponds native to Trinidad.

The Evolution Library on this website is a vast multimedia library of assets related to evolution. The contents are organized into curriculum-based paths that parallel the learning goals established in the standards for biology. It includes seven short videos specifically designed for use in classrooms, and can be streamed at no cost or purchased on DVD.

Evolutionary biology remains an area of study that poses many important questions, such as what triggers evolution and the speed at which it happens. This is particularly relevant to human evolution, where it's been difficult to reconcile the notion that the physical characteristics of humans derived from apes and religions that believe that humanity is unique in the universe and has a special place in creation. It is a soul.

There are also a number of other ways in which evolution can take place and natural selection being the most popular theory. However, scientists also study other kinds of evolution, such as mutation, genetic drift, and sexual selection, among others.

Many fields of inquiry have a conflict with literal interpretations of religious texts, evolutionary biology has been the subject of particularly fierce debate and opposition from religious fundamentalists. While certain religions have managed to reconcile their beliefs with the ideas of evolution, others have not.